Lining panel for vehicle bodies



S. J. BLUM LINING PANEL` FOR VEHICLE BODIESv Filed July 6, 1931 INVENTOR Sz'cZni? JZSZIZ'? Jan. 3l, 1933.

Patented Jan. 3l, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SIDNEY J'. BLUM., OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR T0 ARVEY CORPORATION, 0F

' DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A OORPORATION OF ILLINOIS LINING PANEL FOR VEHICLE BODIES Application led July 6, 1931.' Serial No. 549,076.

The invention relates to linings for vehicle bodiesand has for its object the obtaining of a construction having various advantages as hereinafter set forth.

5 In the drawing:

Figure l is a perspective view of a portion of a lining panel embodying my invention;

Figure 9. is a cross section showing the panel before the inside finishing fabric is applied thereto;

In the present state of the art it 1s usual to line motor vehicle bodies by providing first, a semi-rigid linin board; second, a layer of softfelt applic to the inner face l5 of this board and third, a finishing fabric applied to the felt. The felt layer is usually cemented to the adjacent face of the semirigid board and the nishing fabric is attached either by cementing or stitching.. F or securing the panel to the vehicle frame, fastening devices are employed vvhich extend through apertures in the semi-r1 id and felt layers but are covered by the nis ing fabric. However, these fasteners are not always completely concealed by the finishing fabric and to some extent mar the finished effect. 'Io produce certain ornamental eii'ects it is customary to emboss the board as for instance by extending an. embossed bead around parallel to the edge of the channel. Where this is done it is usual to emboss the board prior to the application of felt thereto and subsequently to apply the felt in sections upon opposite sides of the embossment which considerably increases the labor and expense of the construction. Furthermore, in so applying the felt the sharp lines of the embossment are to a considerable extent lost so that they do not stand out as prominently in the finished i panel. To increase the sharpness of outline it is usual to stitch the finished fabric along the lines defining the embossment and between the feltsections, but where this is done lit so weakens the semi-rigid panel that it frequently breaks along such lines. If this oothereto.

curs there is nothing to hold thesections of the panel together excepting the finished fabric which is of thin material possessing but slight strength.

To overcome some of the defects in the constructions heretofore used, I have devised a simplified construction and method of manufacture and one which results in a better finish as follows. First, I have simplified and improved the method of attaching the panel to the vehicle body by leaving an uncemented flap of felt parallel to the outer edge of the semi-rigid panel which permits of turning back this flap for access to the fasteners. This avoids the necessity for puncturing the @o felt where the fasteners are inserted and consequently the felt will effectually conceal the same and prevent any mar in the surface of the nished fabric. Another feature of my invention is that Where embossed panels are B5 used, I first form a plain panel with a continuous sheet of felt of the same area applied The pattern is then embossed through both the semi-rigid panel and the felt, which gives a much more clearly defined outline to the embossment. This also avoids the labor of fitting separate sections of felt about the embossed portions. After the finish fabric is applied to the inner face of the felt,

it is stitched around the outline of the embossment as is usual, but in case this should cause any break in the semi-rigid panel, the sections are still rmly secured to each other by the continuous strip of felt which. closes this break. The final effect is to make the ,80 embossment stand out much more prominent- 1y than is possible with the method and construction heretofore used.

In detail, A is the semi-rigid panel preferably formed of an asphaltum paper board or ,8.5 similar material. B is a layer of felt which i is applied to the inner face of the board by cementing as indicatedv at C. Instead, however, of cementing the entire area ofthe felt to the semi-rigid board, I leave an unv cemented marginal portion so as to form, a

the semi-rigid board and applied thereto either from the outside or the inside.

Where the panel is embossed, this operation is performed after the felt has been cemented to the semi-rigid board. Thus as indicated F is a depressed bead formed in the boardl A which results in a raised bead G in the felt covering. As the felt also is subjected to the pressure jof the fashioned die, it Will produce a bead having a sharply deined outline. The panel is then finished by the application of a finish fabric H which extends over the inner face of the felt and is secured thereto by cementing. Finally the bead is outlined by stitching which extends through all three layers as indicated by the line I-I.

In applying the panel to the body the fasteners may be readily engaged with the apertures E either from the outside or from the inside and if at anytime it is necessary to remove the panel this may readily be done. The finished fabric H may be drawn around the edge of the panel as indicated at J, thereby holding the uncemented iap of felt in position.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. A lining vpanel for vehiclebodies comprising a semi-rigid board, a felt layer of equal area applied to the inner face of said board, said layer being cemented to the board through the greater portion of its area but leaving an uncemented marginal flap for the purpose described.

2. A lining panel for vehicle bodies comprising a semi-rigid board, a layer of soft felt applied to the inner face of said board, said felt being continuous from edge to edge of the board and being cemented thereto 1n its central portion, leaving a narrow marginal portion uncemented to facilitate fastening of the board.

3. A lining panel for vehicle bodies comprising a semi-rigid board, an uninterrupted layer of felt applied to the outer face of said board and cemented thereto throughout the greater portion of its area, and an embossment extending through both the semi-rigid board and the felt in the cemented portions thereof.

4c. A lining panel for vehicle bodies comprising a semi-rigid board, a continuous sheet of soft felt cemented to said board through the greater portion of its surface, an embossment extending through both the semi-rigid board and the felt in the cemented portion thereof, a nishing fabric overlying the felt and stitching extending through said finishing fabric, felt and board and outlining said embossment.

5. A lining' panel for vehicle bodies comprising a semi-ri id board, an uninterrupted 

